The joker lap is a go for Vila Real

This afternoon’s first race at Vila Real will feature the WTCC’s first joker lap, after the teams accepted the restyled approach and exit after a 15-minute recce this afternoon, following a concern flagged with the FIA on Saturday.

The teams’ committee’s view is there are still concerns over the exit of the joker lap, which takes place at the roundabout at Turn 26 on the challenging street circuit, but the changes made overnight by the FIA have improved the situation, with the new changes only completed at 4am on Sunday.

Cars taking the joker lap have to stick to a reprofiled blue line on the entry to the corner, with the cars on the racing line not permitted to cross the blue line at entry or exit, receiving a warning on their first transgression, following by a black and white flag, and after that a drive-through.

Drivers who don’t serve the joker lap during the race will have an added time penalty which exceeds the time taken to serve the joker lap, and the lap can’t be taken during any safety car periods.

The joker lap also can’t be taken until at least the third lap of the race.

The rallycross-style joker lap is a first for the WTCC, and has had a received mixed reception amongst drivers and fans, but has been introduced in order to add a dimension to the street race, which has tended to be processional outside of incidents due to the lack of passing points on the circuit.